Finally found...

[FomerBearGoneBad]

I just did my first solo flight in a Jet Ranger yesterday up in Cleveland. I have a video I'd like to upload, but can't seem to find where to upload in the movies section, only pictures. The vid is of me landing on a previous flight with me on the left (that's the co-pilot seat for those who don't know). The video is called FlyingBear. All I can say is OH MY FREAKIN GOD...flying a chopper is the first thing I've found that's more of a rush than a Busa.

Not exactly on topic, but for those who know me, I was ready to bust a nut taking off all by myself for the first time...

 

[flyabusa]

i have my private license and own a cozy mk 4 plane and an ultralite and think they rank pretty close to my busa. Either way i go flying. Oh what a feeling!

 

[STUNNAH]

Our bird hasn't flown in a while...I started as an observer but now my back limits my ability to sit in the bird...Oh well the pilot talked to damn much anyway...

 

[Big O]

Oh man am I jealous! That would be soo awesome!

 

[Joss]

Bear, I know what you mean.

Back in about 1970 I was a senior at the UofA (Tucson) and in the Army ROTC flight program. Basically it was enough free hours to get a private license, and used more or less as an apptitude test to see if they wanted to let you go further once you were commissioned.

Anyway, we flew Cessna 150's and after you soloed, you'd just go out to the field and fly, sometimes with an IP, often alone.

The most fun - in the entire world - is taking a little plane like that right down on the deck out in the desert. Like flying up dry washes at maybe 20' off the sandy bottom. Just following the wash... palo verde trees on the left and right banks of the wash higher than your wings.

It would get you busted out of the program if you ever got caught. If the engine ever quit you were just toast. No room to do anything but plow dirt. But I have NEVER experienced anything like it. A fast bike on a country road is similar... but still only a close second.

 

[The Oracle]

Yeah, my buddy flies Apaches and says it is the BOMB!